We Found a Match for Jason’s Hero Donor! 💙
Tanya Ward, 50, of Hutto, TX, will donate her kidney on Veterans Day — saving two lives in the process.
A HERO FOUND
We are overjoyed to share some incredible news — we’ve found a match for Jason’s “hero donor”!
Her name is Tanya Ward, a 50-year-old mother of four (and about a dozen others who lovingly call her “Mom”). Tanya lives in Hutto, Texas, with her husband Ben and their family. She currently serves on the Library Advisory Board for the City of Hutto, and she’s been tenaciously committed for the past three years to donating a kidney on Jason’s behalf.
THE JOURNEY TO A MATCH
Because she isn’t a direct blood-type match for Jason, Tanya partnered with the DOVE organization (Donor Outreach for Veterans) — a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans receive the kidney donations they desperately need.
This past week, all the pieces finally came together! 🎉
Tanya will fly to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 9, and on Veterans Day (November 11) she will donate her kidney to a matched recipient — saving their life and opening the door for Jason to receive his own transplant soon.
Her donation allows Jason to be added to the National Kidney Registry, which will greatly speed up his chances of getting a kidney in the coming months.
We are beyond grateful for Tanya’s faith, strength, and perseverance throughout this journey.
She’s undergone countless blood tests, scans, and exams, and traveled all over Texas to qualify as a donor.
In doing so, she will save two lives — the life of her recipient, and Jason’s, once he receives his own kidney in the next two to three months.
We’ll be posting regular updates here as Tanya’s hero’s journey unfolds, so please check back and follow along with our family as we share this special chapter.
And if you have an O blood type, please consider getting tested as a potential donor for Jason.
Your generosity could be the miracle that saves another life.
The world needs more heroes like Tanya — and maybe that next hero is you.💛
ABOUT JASON
Jason, who was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy at 31 years old, has spent his adult life serving others — his country, his family, and his community — all while managing years of dialysis and the daily challenges of kidney failure. Tanya’s gift represents a turning point in his long fight for health and hope.
How You Can Help
Learn more about:
Becoming a living kidney donor through DOVE
Spreading the word on social media
Supporting Jason’s journey through donations or community sharing